title: Severely uncontrolled diabetes in the over-fifties.
abstract: Between 1969 and 1976, 317 adults were admitted to hospital in Nottingham with severely uncontrolled diabetes (plasma glucose over 33 mmol/l and/or venous bicarbonate less than 14 mmol/l). A third of episodes were in patients over the age of 50 years, of which 43% were fatal. In contrast, only 3.4% of episodes in patients under 50 years were fatal. In the older group, 65% of deaths occurred within 48 h of admission and in 44% no cause was found other than uncontrolled diabetes. Later deaths were due to underlying disease, infection or thromboembolism. Amongst older patients 38% were not previously known to have diabetes. Presentation to hospital was late and we conclude that many deaths were potentially avoidable by earlier detection in the community.
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001639:Bicarbonates / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D003926:Diabetic Coma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality; D016883:Diabetic Ketoacidosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007657:Ketone Bodies / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D001639:Bicarbonates; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007657:Ketone Bodies